Starbucks to serve up cocktails in the sky in Busan

The coffee giant will begin offering cocktails as part of a campaign to enhance in-store experiences at select branches.

Starbucks' Haeundae X the SKY branch in Busan [STARBUCKS KOREA]

Starbucks Korea will add cocktails to its menu at select locations in Korea, including Haeundae in Busan, from as early as from the end of March.

The coffee shop giant said Tuesday it will offer alcoholic beverages at specific branches, including the Haeundae X the SKY branch, renowned as the highest Starbucks globally on the 99th floor of the Haeundae LCT The Sharp building. Access to the Starbucks store is limited to paid visitors of the Busan X the SKY observatory, with entrance for adults priced at 27,000 won ($20.51).

"Customer demand has driven this decision, with many expressing interest in enjoying cocktails while admiring the night view at the Haeundae X the SKY branch," a Starbucks Korea official told the Korea JoongAng Daily Tuesday.

The name or price of the new cocktail has not yet been decided.

To accommodate the sale of alcoholic beverages, Starbucks Korea has reclassified the Busan store from a "snack restaurant" to an "ordinary restaurant" under the Food Sanitation Act.

In addition to the Busan-based branch, Starbucks is also considering introducing alcoholic beverages at an undecided location in Jeju Island, a popular tourist destination in Korea.

Starbucks Korea has been selling beer —named Byuldabang Lager — at the Yeoju Jayu CC branch situated within a golf course in Gyeonggi since July of last year, the first time the coffee chain served alcoholic beverages in the country.

The company clarified, however, that this expansion of alcoholic beverages is not nationwide but rather focused on "specialty branches", offering exclusive drinks tailored to each location's concept.

Beverages offered exclusively at Starbucks' The Bukhansan branch [STARBUCKS KOREA]

For instance, at The Bukhansan branch, customers can enjoy the "Bukhansan Lemon Earl Grey Blended Beverage," while at The Yeosu Dolsan DT branch, they can try "The Yeosu Sea Grapefruit Fizzio."

"We will continue developing specialty drinks aligned with the concepts of these unique branches," the official added.

Starbucks has been offering alcoholic beverages at select stores globally, including locations in the United States and China.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]